Full Report: Lange-Houghtaling!

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From the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia, ICE Promotions brought on an incredible night of boxing with eight showdowns of fast-swinging, bone-jarring action. The main event of the night saw Jimmy Lange (152 lbs) from Great Falls, VA duke it out with Frank Houghtaling (150 lbs) of Albany, NY for the WBC USNBC Super Welterweight championship. Lange unleashed a tidal wave of devastating hooks that floored Houghtaling in the first round and nearly put him down in the second round. Lange remained the aggressor all the way into round four. At one point, Houghtaling accidentally put Lange into a headlock but was shocked when Lange popped him square in the eye. Lange remained a stalker to Houghtaling, landing multiple shots to the head, leading to a surprise knockout at the end of round six. Jimmy Lange is now the WBC USNBC Super Welterweight Champion and has a record of 30-3-2, 21 KO’s. Houghtaling, who announced his retirement shortly after the bout, has a record of 19-16-5, four KO’s.

For the co-main event of the evening, it was the District of Columbia’s Purcell Miller (159 lbs) against Tom “The Railroad Warrior” Wilt (156 ½ lbs) of Altoona Pennsylvania. This fight, scheduled for eight rounds, went the distance. Miller slugged Wilt almost to his knees in the first round and managed to finish strong through the end of round three. Wilt’s punches may have increased in number in the final rounds but they simply didn’t have enough power to floor an equally exhausted Miller, who didn’t throw enough punches to put down Wilt. In the end, the fight was awarded unanimously to Miller with a score 77-74. Miller is now 23-5-1, 18 KO’s while Wilt, who is the head coach of the Penn State University boxing team, falls to 21-7, four KO’s.

In the welterweight division, 18-year-old Juan Rodriguez (149 lbs) from Haymarket, VA collided with Dwartney Wortham (151 lbs) of Pine Mountain, Georgia. Wortham was definitely eager for that first victory and came out with such a flurry that it knocked Rodriguez off balance. However, in a sudden upset, Rodriguez scored two blows to the face before referee Vic De Wysocki called a halt to the bout at 54 seconds of the first round. Wortham, unable to continue due to an injury in his left hand, was pronounced TKO. Rodriguez is now undefeated with three victories and three knockouts to his credit, while Wortham is 0-2.

In a women’s bout, Jennifer Salinas (122 ½ lbs) from Alexandria, Virginia and Christina Leadbeater (124 lbs) of Carnets Point, New Jersey. Round one saw a several air punches before Leadbeater charged forward, pinning Salinas against the ropes. Leadbeater began round two with the score in her command. Salinas knocked her back with the jab and reversed several attacks made by Leadbeater. Round three, Salinas came out swinging. A finishing blow to the cheek sent Leadbeater down for good at 2:05 with Salinas the winner by knockout. Salinas is now 10-1, four KO’s while Leadbeater is 2-3.

The cruiserweight grudge-match between Cameroon fighter, Francois “The Warrior” Ambang (179 lbs) and Mongolian cruiserweight, Otgonbayar Daivii (178 ½ lbs) kicked off with ferocious intensity. Ambang, fighting out of Richmond, VA, knew the power of Daivii’s left hook all too well and managed a few counterpunches through round two. Daivii, battling out of Arlington, VA sustained cuts on the corner of his left eye and lower cheek. The match quickly descended into both fighters colliding with each and tangling their arms. In the last round, referee Malik Waleed had to slap the fighters’ gloves especially hard just so that the fighters would obey his commands. In the end, the match went to the scorecards as a split-decision in favor of Daivii, who gained a measure of revenge against Ambang for his unanimous decision loss in February. Daivii is now 3-2, one KO while Ambang is 2-3.

Yet another fast-paced war occurred in the showdown rematch between “Tattoo” Tom Mitchell (124 lbs) from Centreville, VA and Yieta “the King” Johnson (122 lbs) of Woodbridge, VA. Mitchell wasted no time and charged forward, refusing to give ground. Johnson stumbled at first but, once he found his balance, managed to fire off six consecutive hooks to the head, knocking Mitchell permanently off balance. Referee Billy Johnson called a halt to the bout quickly at 0:50 seconds of round one for the winner by TKO, Johnson, who is now 2-2, two KO’s.

Mitchell made his return to the ring just a few months after his 18-year-old daughter, Shayla, passed away from cancer. Mitchell used both of his bouts to raise money for the Growing Hope Foundation, an organization that helps families of kids with cancer.

The most suspenseful fight came in the form of Kendrick “Holy Hands” Walker (149 lbs) from DC going head-to-head with Richmond, Virginia’s, Taurean Edwards (152 lbs). Back and forth it went between Edwards and Walker. Edwards led in with a high hook but attacked with a low jab. Walker continued to smile as he made contact with Edward’s face a number of times. The fight ended with both opponents slugging it out in the middle of the ring. Originally announced as a majority draw, the fight was later verified to be a split decision in favor of Walker.

Finally, it was Delonta Marshall (265 lbs) from the District of Columbia going up against fellow DC boxer Andrew “the Giant” Jackson (291 lbs) making his pro debut. The fight began with some cautious moves by Marshall until Jackson turned up the heat, slugging wide, and charging in with confidence. Marshall tried grabbing Jackson whenever he could but could not withstand the onslaught. Referee Malik Waleed called a halt to the bout at 1:55 of the second round in favor of Jackson.

ICE Promotions, the firm run by Jackie Kallen promoted the show, the matchmaker was J.D. Brown.